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Working hypotheses

Artificial intelligence: the development of AI decision and the possibility given to AIs to hold properties will lead to the dispossession by humans of any forms of belongings : Yes / No / Other from BG will end on 01/02/2020 19h19 In french 2017 elections campaign, one candidate (M. Hamon) raised the topic about the progressive end of "work" and of a universal income for everyone. He argued this issue was also discussed by Bill Gates under the term of "robot tax" There is a very strong debate about the problem that could arise if human work and money aren't correlated anymore. In the question of property, the same issue appears with AI and not robots. But here, the question is about belongings under any form. The unprecedented speed of AI such as in the excellent film "Her" could result in a complete distortion of the markets with a drastic increase of virtual belongings prices. Thus, real world belongings would not be as valuable as they were until the arrival of AI in the property holders field. -- High-earning traders will quickly become an endangered species as AI takes over the financial sector. --

What will be the most ancient fossils of hominid that will be discovered in the future? : 6 millions years-old / 7 millions years-old / 8 millions years-old / 9 millions years-old / Other from BG will end on 06/10/2018 16h32 Sahelanthropus tchadensis is an extinct hominine species that is dated to about 7 million years ago, possibly very close to the time of the chimpanzee/human divergence, and so it is unclear whether it can be regarded as a member of the Hominini tribe.[1] Few, if any, specimens are known, other than the partial skull nicknamed Toumaï ("hope of life"). (source Wikipedia) --

To emerge the phenomenon of consciousness relies on quantum physics specifically, i.e. theories that do not involve quantum phenomenon cannot account for all mind-matter relationships. : Yes / No / Other from BG will end on 02/01/2020 09h24 I must say that I was absolutely not convinced by quantum theories of consciousness until yesterday, when I read the news about the NSA developing "quantum computer that could crack most types of encryption" (see ref. above). It occurred to me that brain (and living cells) have developed since the "beginning" in a universe where quantum physics is the rule. It means that complex phenomenons that could help to process data in a "new optimized way" were available to our neurons for millions of years. If the NSA can break codes with quantum computers, why not some of our neurons in a way that we don't understand yet? Sir John Eccles offered a precise micro-tubular theory about that a few years ago. -- An important recent paper to read on this topic Consciousness in the universe : A review of the ‘Orch OR’ theory (Stuart Hameroff, Roger Penrose): "there is a connection between the brain’s biomolecular processes and the basic structure of the universe."... "The Orch OR proposal suggests conscious experience is intrinsically connected to the fine-scale structure of space–time geometry, and that consciousness could be deeply related to the operation of the laws of the universe" --

Pokemon Go (Niantic): Niantic will face lawsuits for damage caused by the use of their virtual reality game : Yes / No / Other from BG will end on 19/08/2017 13h57 Augmented reality games have consequences in the real world and thus must be safe. It would be easy, for Niantic, to forbid any interaction while moving above X mph (such as driving a car). If they do not enforce such a simple limitation, it means that they agree with the possibility to ride a bike while playing. -- I have launched a change.org call for the idea of responsibility: --

Singularities: Among these potential major changes which one will occur the first? : AI singularity / Extraterrestrial contact / Virtual reality preference / Immortality / Human augmentation from BG will end on 01/09/2020 13h57 In my view, AI singularity is among the most probable paradigm change humanity will face (and generate!). However, all the possibilities listed here have an epistemological potential of "changing everything": I mean culture, religions, economy, and even metaphysics. The importance of the question is that given the order in which these likely divergences will appear, history of humanity will follow radically different ways. And face different challenges and threats... --

Voynich: The Voynich manuscript secret will be uncovered. The source language is: : an ancient american tongue / an asian language / a cypher / random generated text / Other from BG will end on 06/10/2025 00h09 Only a few words have been deciphered by a careful analysis of the numerous illustrations of the manuscript. for example the word Chiron a Centaur has been identified. -- See this reference A Preliminary Analysis of the Botany, Zoology, and Mineralogy of the Voynich Manuscript by Arthur O. Tucker, Rexford H. Talbert HerbalGram. 2013; American Botanical Council. Here one of their illustration for a plant that could be "Caulanthus Heterophyllus". It is native to California and Baja California, say the authors. --

The multiverse (meta-universes) theories will gain support among cosmologists in the future as it is still debated. : Yes / No / Other from BG will end on 01/10/2017 16h16 @Loomyer : You are right. In fact, it appears from the Wikipedia article (I must admit that I am absolutely a novice in cosmology) that many versions of multiverse theory exist. In the question I meant any type of multiverse view on the universe with the exception of a direct application of quantum physic principles like the Schrödinger's paradox of the Cat. If the question is vague or unclear, I will try to make it more precise! Thanks! -- "It is important to keep in mind that the multiverse view is not actually a theory, it is rather a consequence of our current understanding of theoretical physics. " argues ... but "The race is now on to find a way to test the theory, including searching the sky for signs of collisions with other universes." --

KIC 8462852 will provide the first evidence of an alien life : true / false / Other from BG will end on 01/10/2020 08h18 Weird flux were found coming from this star. Researchers are puzzled as nothing like that should come from this kind of star.
Look at the planet hunter website for helping these researchers and at Wright's blog dealing with alien's megastructures --

One of the following vocal assistant will be the first computer program to pass the Turing test without any human help. : Siri (Apple) / Google Play or Everywhere / Yes, another one / False / Other from BG ended the 01/08/2017 10h51 Additionaly, I would argue that Turing test might not be so selective... I would propose an extension of the test (if no-one has proposed it before) that is : "an intelligence is human, if any living or artificial intelligence capable of judging votes that it is..." -- An exemple of a dialog given by Ray Kurzweil with Eugene Goostman the robot of Princeton University. " We are therefore proud to declare that Alan Turing's test was passed for the first time on Saturday. Kevin Warwick, PhD Not so sure... --

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